Hosts India battle South Africa

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

Welcome to Dawn.com’s live coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup where readers will for the very first time get the opportunity to commentate on the match in real time. Here’s your chance to provide your analysis, set the field, predict the outcome of the match and have your say as India take on South Africa

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat after winning the toss against South Africa in a key World Cup Group B match on Saturday which could see the hosts make the quarter-finals.

India made one change from the side that beat the Netherlands by five wickets in the previous match in Delhi, bringing in seamer Munaf Patel in place of leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.

South Africa replaced injured leg-spinner Imran Tahir with off-spinner Johan Botha for the only change from the team that lost to England by six runs in Chennai.

India currently top the seven-team group with seven points from four games, while South Africa have four points from three matches.

A win will guarantee a last-eight place for India.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Morne van Wyk.

Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Simon Taufel (AUS) TV umpire: Billy Doctrove (WIS) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

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ViTu

Mar 12, 2011 02:57pm

India opener Virender Sehwag started his team's innings against South Africa with a four on Saturday, just as he has done every time India has batted so far at the World Cup. Saturday's boundary was the fifth time in five games Sehwag has started the innings with a four, having already done so against Bangladesh, England, Ireland and the Netherlands in previous matches. Saturday's four was a nonchalant chip over midwicket off the bowling of Dale Steyn. The assault continued: After six overs Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar had pummelled South Africa for 93 runs without loss in 11.

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Fprot

Mar 12, 2011 03:30pm

Finally! a break through for the poor south africans....Sehwag bowled by the relatively unknown Faf du Plessis! I'd say send in Yusuf pathan and continue with the hammering!

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malik

Mar 12, 2011 04:09pm

Good going India. Can you teach our dumb players to play?

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Fprot

Mar 12, 2011 05:53pm

India stunned after hammering South AFrica for most part of the first innings! Dhoni left stranded! wow.....wish we could hear the dressing room talk! :)

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